Anatidæ.--Wild Geese. Spring: Records at Whalsey Skerries, Auskerry,
and Isle of May. Earliest March 6th, at Whalsey Skerries, eight resting
on island for several days, E. gale, and haze; latest April 21st, at
Isle of May, large flock flying E., accompanied by Curlews.--Autumn:
Records at Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, Pentland
Skerries, Isle of May, and Inch Keith. Earliest "Wild Geese," Oct.
2nd, at Isle of May, thirteen flying W. in line. Earliest "Barnacle,"
only record, Aug. 12th, at Inch Keith, one flying due N.; latest "Wild
Geese," Dec. 23rd, at Isle of May. Immense flock flying N.E., 11.80
a.m., S.W., haze, approaching to fog; and another flock same day, at
12.30 p.m. Besides the above, one "Brent" Goose (?) is noted on Nov.
25th, flying N., with S.W. gale, and showers. Swans.--Spring: Records
at Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and Bell Rock. Earliest Feb. 27th,
at Sumburgh Head, two "Wild Swans," apparently much fatigued, flying
S.; latest May 6th, a flock flying N.E. Autumn: Records at Sumburgh
Head. Earliest Nov. 12th, at Sumburgh Head, eight flying S.E.; latest
Dec. 25th, at Sumburgh Head, two resting on a lock near the lighthouse,
where they frequently rest on their way south every year. Note:--If
these are the same birds each year, it is interesting as proving the
undeviating lines of autumn flight of waterfowl. Eider Ducks.--Spring:
Whalsey Skerries only; noted as arriving at breeding haunts on March
9th. Autumn: Records at Whalsey Skerries, Auskerry, Pentland Skerries,
and Isle of May. Earliest July 5th, when Eiders left the island at
Whalsey Skerries. "The Drakes had left previously," light S., haze, and
fog; latest Oct. 20th, at Auskerry, ten Eiders remained all day; they
also remain at Auskerry all winter. Rush, largest number recorded at
Pentland Skerries on Oct. 8th, when a flock of 100, mostly males, were
seen swimming past the island, light S. breeze, and fog; and forty took
shelter on Oct. 12th, at 9 a.m., at Whalsey Skerries, S.W. gale and
rain; and all left next day. Sheldrake.--Autumn: Having remained here
(Auskerry) all summer since end of June, leave in September or October.
Records from Auskerry and Pentland Skerries. Earliest Aug. 27th,
at Pentland Skerries, one found dead; latest Oct. 5th, at Pentland
Skerries, flock flying S.E. Other dates, Aug. 31st, at Pentland
Skerries, flying S.; Sept. 3rd, flying about light, not striking.
Teal.--One on Sept. 21st, at Isle of May, another at Pentland Skerries,
on Oct. 8th. Wild Duck at Isle of May, Sept. 24th, Oct. 4th, and Nov.
21st. Long-tailed Duck at Sumburgh Head, Nov. 12th (about twenty). On
Sept. 12th Tufted Ducks were abundant on Loch Leven,--the most abundant
species there,--and the young were not able to fly, "some being not
larger than a Water Rat." Other species seen were Scaup, Golden-eye,
Pochard, Teal, and Mallard (P. D. Maloch, _in lit._).
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